As an Indigenous student in an Ivy League university, culturally sensitive support services made all the difference in my life.

I am a member of the Gila River Indian Community and a junior at Cornell University. The transition from the deserts of Arizona to the hills of New York was difficult and often lonely. Within Cornell’s Native American and Indigenous student program, I found a support system, a community, and a home.

Transition to Campus

As an incoming first-year student, I was lucky to be selected for Cornell’s Pre-Collegiate Summer Program (now called PSSP). PSSP is a summer bridge program for incoming first-year students who can benefit from support. Moving to campus was an overwhelming experience and I struggled to find where I fit in. Everything changed after a tour of the Botanical Gardens hosted by the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program (AIISP). During this trip, I was introduced to the AIISP staff and students that could relate to my background. I later attended a tour of the Native American house, Akwe:kon, and an AIISP event where students made traditional corn husk dolls. These AIISP events provided my first sense of belonging at Cornell.

Mentoring and Tutoring

Cornell’s classes are notoriously challenging. I discovered that with a willingness to reach out for help and the right support, classes become manageable. One of AIISP’s goals is to provide academic support for students, specifically mentoring and tutoring. I was a mentee in the Native American/Indigenous Freshman Mentoring Program and, later, a program coordinator and mentor. As a mentee, I was paired with an upperclassman and able to ask an array of questions from classes to life in Ithaca. In larger meetings, we learned about study skills, participated in activities like pumpkin carving, and talked with other students. Mentors provided answers to important questions and introduced freshmen to resources like the AIISP tutoring services. These tutors, which are available for a variety of courses, are a lifeline for students like me that have limited educational backgrounds and resources.

Akwe:kon and Caldwell Hall

Beyond academic help, AIISP also strives to provide a place where students can go to be a part of the community and feel at home. AIISP currently has two meeting locations, Caldwell Hall and the program house, Akwe:kon. Caldwell Hall is the perfect place to go study, meet with your friends, and attend events like the weekly “souper” series (the soup is fantastic!) Akwe:kon is the residential program house designed to celebrate Indigenous cultures. During my freshman and sophomore years, I lived at Akwe:kon as a resident and RA. It provided a phenomenal community with other Indigenous and allied students. This is where I met many of my closest friends. From spending late-night study sessions in the Multipurpose Room, to attending one of AIISP’s club meetings in the Great Room, and even just talking to my RA about how my day went, I felt fully supported and entirely comfortable in the wooden halls of Akwe:kon.

As an upperclassman, I know I would not have made it this far without the support of the AIISP Program. I will forever be grateful to Cornell University for investing in student support programming such as AIISP.